1960 Glastron FireFlite has a new home!

[jbcurt00]

Re: 1960 Glastron FireFlite has a new home!

Yep, pushing it in & out of the garage & working 1/2 in & 1/2 out w/ the door up, heater doesn't do much to warm the whole of outdoors. I have entertained thoughts of an awning over the driveway, and leave it tented & 100% outside, but w/ retaining walls & driveway slope, it might not be ideal either....

The new tool may let me tent in the garage w/ the door down. The smell of the grinding fiberglass has been a bit of a problem. I have yet to send a dust cloud into the house, which might earn me an overnight in the garage.....If the saw doesn't generate much friction, & it shouldn't, hopefully the smell won't get too bad. I used some halogen lights last time, and w/ the tyvek, it was too hot, even when it was below 40 outside. The 60watt clip lights should be better, and generate some heat, and can be much closer to me & the plastic. I didn't really have any problem w/ the cold fingers. As long as I was working, they were just fine. And my work permit was pulled early when the smell got to be too much.....

 

[jbcurt00]

Re: 1960 Glastron FireFlite has a new home!

Got Jas-itis: can't find the camera:facepalm:

1st the good: Got about 25% of the rubrail bolts uncovered, the multi tool isn't real fast, but I can go right around the edge of the glass hump w/ the bolt under it, and sometimes the loose piece of glass just pops of & it's done

Then the not so good: The blade that came w/ the multi tool isn't very good quality & it's down to about a third of it's useful teeth, but is still getting the job done, and it wasn't cutting much faster at the start. It goes through resin, gelcoat & a single layer of non-roving 'glass pretty quick, roving & multiple layers not so much.

And the bad: The multi tool still generates the dreaded stink. It just does it much slower. I've got a new better quality blade, so I'll try again Sun, pushed out of the garage & draped w a tarp.

This may be the time to talk the MRS into a Tinny. I'm really digging Gibbles 'new' Nova.... I need to buy a big vacant lot & put up a pole barn

I also used the multi tool to trim down the lip left along the hull when I trimmed out the deck. It's not real good at it, but it's fairly thick w/ roving & multiple layers of glass....

If it's: 'photos or it didn't happen...' I was a lazy bum today, & did nothing. So Sun, I guess I'll have to get tons done, Jas-style

 

[Pmccraney]

it much slower.

This may be the time to talk the MRS into a Tinny. I'm really digging Gibbles 'new' Nova.... I need to buy a big vacant lot & put up a pole barn

I had this exact same thought today...that is, the lot with a boat barn...not the tinny part... I'm blessed to have access to a great shop, but the 35 min drive out there is killing me... (I also had tinny envy when grinding. It's like an oasis in the desert...looks appealing when ur in a cloud of lethal dust fumes, but it's not real)...

Hang in there man...like most things in life, something truly worth having (read:, classic glasser) takes time and effort.. You will have a really beautiful product when it's all said and done...

 

[jbcurt00]

Re: 1960 Glastron FireFlite has a new home!

Thanks dude..... Between keeping the raccoon locked up & lack of progress on the lil' red rocket, I feel my creativity was being stifled

It felt good to work on her, if only for a little while. Under the splashwell & front deck the multi tool will also be no joy, but it will be so much better then the flap wheel I'll need to use to grind glass & be able to separate the cap from the hull. Really liked the way it uncovered the bolts. W/ fresh new blade it may even be better..... May even be above 40 outside Sun, so my mission tonight is to find the camera.....

 

[Bwana Don]

Re: 1960 Glastron FireFlite has a new home!

Just popped in to take a look. Nice classy little boat. When I finish both my tinnies I might try a glasser. Then again I might just fish and fish and fish.....

Good luck, I can't wait to see you finish her.

 

[jbcurt00]

Re: 1960 Glastron FireFlite has a new home!

Accomplished my Sat pm mission:

Gearing up to keep after the grinding & cutting out the rubrail bolts.

Have a great Sunday! Hope your team ends up in the Superbowl

 

[Pmccraney]

Re: 1960 Glastron FireFlite has a new home!

The games are a tough one for me... My beloved Saints are out...

However, my alma mater (Ole Miss) is well represented in the games:

Eli Manning (giants of course)
Michael Oher (of blindside fame) - Ravens
Patrick Willis (P willy) - 49ers (one of the baddest linebackers in the game)
Ben Jarvus Green-Ellis (the "hypen" or the "law firm") - Pats

The way I look it - 2 of my boys are going to play in the big game and 1 will get a ring... I'll be checking the scores from a deer stand hopefully.

 

[jbcurt00]

Re: 1960 Glastron FireFlite has a new home!

Well, the rubrail bolts are all uncovered, as well as some other fittings I found buried. All & all, love the multi tool saw, couldn't have done it in 1 session w/ out it. Especially under splashwell around the transom & up under the cap at the bow. A grinder would have been a mess. Grinding down the seam will be a challenge, but as long as I'm using a flap wheel, I shouldn't make any more non-theortical, non-hypothetical cuts thru the hull. There were lots of air pockets behind the glass & it looks like I put some 3-4" thin slices thru the cap. Just above the rubrail:facepalm: Bummer, thought I was kickin' ***** & taking it's name with the multi tool. Turns out some of the places that felt like it was through to the back of the glass over the air pocket were daylighting at the bow. At least it's done, and I'll leave it for now. Gotta get a state inspection before I pull the cap. The longer I leave the rubrail in place the better. It's 1 continuous pc, stern corner to stern corner....

And now for the port side's pix:


Starboard side in a few

 

[sphelps]

Re: 1960 Glastron FireFlite has a new home!

You might better get a helper to take rail off . Unless you got go go gadget arms.

 

[jbcurt00]

Re: 1960 Glastron FireFlite has a new home!

Oh in my rush to mention daylighting the bow, I forgot to mention that there were about 45 bolts, screws & fittings per side....... But they're all exposed! Got to clean up the stern sides of the transom and cut out some more of the ply under the splashwell/transom area. Multi tool worked good for that too....After the cap comes off, it will be easier to grind the fiberglass skin the transom ply lamination had against the hull......

The starboard side rubrail bolts:

Apparently in my haste to take some pix, get out of my shredded tyvek suit & into a shower, I moved the camera while taking the starboard side rubrail bolt shot...:facepalm: But trust me, if I got the bow & the stern done, the much easier to work on side was done too......

I've got a shop vac & some tools to clean up, plus make some room to stock pile boat & motor parts. Got 2 new shelving units at HD Sat during the honey-do errands, so I may not make much progress this week.

But I'm cooking w/ gas now!!!!!!!! The new clip lights & a box fan seem to keep the open garage bearable. Next weekend should be another work day or 2

Have a great week all!!!!!!!!!!

 

[jbcurt00]

Re: 1960 Glastron FireFlite has a new home!

You might better get a helper to take rail off . Unless you got go go gadget arms.

If it's a grinding, dust free environment, the MRS can be pressed into indentured servitude for rubrail removal. I'm kind of at a loss about where to put the darn thing once I get it off. I'll probably hang the cap in long term storage, high & tight to the rafters (master floor joists) over the hull........ Maybe loosely taped to the cap..?!?!? Anyway, I can't imagine how this is going to go pulling it off, let alone when it's time to re-install it......... Not surprisingly, there are quite a few bolts that are loose in the hull... If I can get the boat cleaned up a bit this week, I may try to un-do some of the nuts on the rubrail bolts. Maybe not though, that would be another something else to keep together....

I haven't done any poly yet, so no genetic anomalies or extra arms.....

 

[rrumba]

Re: 1960 Glastron FireFlite has a new home!

Jbc........ glad to hear it worked out for you and you are kickin it's but and taking it's name.. keep it up.


PM, had the same thoughts about the tinny, don't let him fool you, he is just trying to change the color of his kool aid to throw us off track..... Pole barn, yeah right......

 

[Pmccraney]

Found a little motivation for ya.

http://www.antiqueboat.com/boatdetails/10007-C15.aspx

 

[jbcurt00]

Re: 1960 Glastron FireFlite has a new home!

Hey man, thanks. Think he'll notice the missing short 650? It reminds me of the '60 Crosby that started this mess:facepalm: It was burgundy & cream but had the same basic layout & bow stripe. That boat got 'sold' so I bought this 1. Found it on CL yesterday for $50. No motor or I'd have skipped bolts today & gone to fetch it....... I don't think I'll ever need 2 basic 15' runabouts, unless the 2nd 1 is a tinny.

What just happened right there....... And why do I hear Jas's voice in my head 'eh....

Don't tell the w@rden, but if work takes me anywhere near the Crosby she may very well be mine! Just in time for Valentine's Day!!!

If yer a offerin', I'm a takin' the '62 FireFlite. Nice looking, nothing too special, but good lines & looks like it would cut the waves. Gotta love the 60's vee's from the bow...

 

[craigweaver]

JBC! Bro! you're kickin ***** and takin names dude. Won't be long and you'll be puttin her back together.

 

[jbcurt00]

Re: 1960 Glastron FireFlite has a new home!

Well, now that I have a nice stack of FireFlite parts & some motor & gas tank gear, I spent some time moving stuff @ in the garage & put up 2 new sets of shelves. Boat parts shelved & organized.

We'll have to see about the putting it back together. Is it normal to have parts left over?

I just want to get that out of the way up front!:facepalm:

50's & partly sunny today, the next 2 days are almost as nice. I thought I'd made a detour on the way home & ended up at GT1M's place w/ all this sunshine & warm weather in Jan.

 

[jbcurt00]

Re: 1960 Glastron FireFlite has a new home!

Well, athough I would like to say I used a Rocketeer (kind of goes w/ my nickname for the boat: lil' red rocket) to sew the upholstery, it turns out that my MIL has a NICE Kenmore 158 & it's cabinet, that she inherited from her sister. As far as I can tell, I should have no problem using it to sew multiple layers of vinyl & piping. I need to get a manual, as I don't know much except that 'bobbin', 'stitch' & thread are actually words & are in some way connected to the act of sewing. It may need a little clean up, it has been 2 years since she got it, & it was unused for more then a couple years before Ramona passed. She had a little brass tape name tag put on it, so the boats upholstery will be done by 'Ramona' and I may occasionally refer to the machine that way. If the weather turns as we expect it to, I may give Ramona some attention this weekend, and make sure she's cleaned up & ready!

I will also steal a page from JDA's book & use 3/16 rubber window screen channel to make the piping. I'm hoping JDA will hook me up w/ some tuck & roll tips....... I may see about getting an embossed look for the Glastron logo script in the seat back....

 

[jbcurt00]

Re: 1960 Glastron FireFlite has a new home!

I found this last night, total mounted height to seat ply bottom is 5 1/2":

Rotating & sliding seat base... Probably only get 1 for the helm. Considering a fold out lounge/seat on the passenger side......But $120per...

EDIT:

That's the old version ^^^....

The current version:
It's a little cheaper, $110per, but is also swivel & slide....
Total height is down, only 4" from bottom of mount plate to bottom of plywood. This 1 allows either a severely modified WOG seat base pyramid (2" tall ?? ) or at least an additional layer of 3/4 ply laminated to the floor deck like friscoboater...And maintain the low profile of the original helm seat boxes.

Here's what the original seat bases looked like:

If not 1 of these 2 low profile bases, I'll probably use a modified WOG base.

 

[jbcurt00]

Re: 1960 Glastron FireFlite has a new home!

Well this is an interesting development.....

Hmmmm, I've really done it now Vern.........

MBS has quite possibly struck another expectant victim...

 

[Jon Sob]

Re: 1960 Glastron FireFlite has a new home!

Hey jb .... that raven is a good looking vessel .... has it been officially added to the jb fleet?